One Good Three Hour Round Trip Drive Down To Philadelphia In Order To Visit The Bike Stop Deserves Another, No?

Sure it does!

So that's what I did.

The crowd was thinner than last night. For no good reason I was expecting the guys to be out in droves like last night, it being a three day weekend and all. And it was probably a bit healthier than the usual Sunday night. I was chatting with the bartender/manager and scoping out the possibilities, when in came Skin with another guy. I sauntered over and greeted them. The other guy turned out to be something of a protege of Skin's, or as protege put it, "He's showing me the ropes."

Well that speaks well of Skin! That is noble and good!

More lively and thought provoking conversation ensued. Always a good thing.

Protege once again brought to mind a salient fact: there needs to be a GMSMA in every city, town, village, and hamlet in the world. Why? Because were are guys like protege gonna go? Luckily for Protege, he happened to meet up with Skin, and he seems to be in good hands.

*sigh*

Forty years ago, it's my understanding that when guys like protege wandered into a leather bar for the first time, they would suffer animadversion but a tentative welcome by the men they found there. If they seemed like good guys, introductions would be made, and an apprenticeship of sorts would ensue. Alas, no more. Not since the 1980s when leathermen were too busy burying their brothers and this whole practice fell by the wayside.

Luckily, for New York City and a few other cities that rose to the fore in imitation, GMSMA met that need. Absent this august and praise-worthy initiative, how are guys going to learn how to tie one another spread eagle on the bed and drip hot candle wax in breath-taking patterns on their partners who struggle in vain against the bonds that hold them. I mean, it's not rocket science, and no doubt someone of average intelligence could figure it out on his own, but I'd hate to be the bottom during one of the initial ventures. Spend an afternoon at a GMSMA educational workshop (and carefully review the handout) and you're good to go, Mack!

Another pretty disturbing revalation. Protege, it turns out, is an officer of the law. And he told us that State Troopers made a point of keeping an eye out for cars with pink triangle or rainbow stickers on their bumpers. So they could stop them. Apparently, Smokey hasn't caught on to the signifcance of the leather pride flag, because my silver Jeep Liberty has never garnered this attention.

Oh. And over the next 30 days or so, there's gonna be a sting operation in effect in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Pass the word.

Anyway.

Alas, no sign of Harley. I asked the bartender for the 411. He knew just about immediately who I was talking about. Apparently, Harley is a non-negotiable Top, and has a good reputation. I was kinda hoping that Harley was a bottom. Or at least vers. Lately I'm big into the idea of Topping musclebears. Even if it means lugging 200 pounds of chain out of my car.

So, it was another good night at the Bike Stop.

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